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The Welcome to a history of Europe, key battles.

This is the last of a five-part series on the Battle of Faunaver of 1495.

Last week I described the entry of the French army under Charles VIII into the Italian Peninsula

and his conquest of the Kingdom of Naples.

If you haven't listened to the previous four parts, then now might be a good time to listen.

But if you have already listened to them, we'd like to continue anyway.

Then let's begin.

Music Many Italians were utterly dismayed, even ashamed of the ease at which Charles VIII had marched along the entire length of the peninsula and taken control of Naples.

Isabella Desto sums up such feelings in a letter to her husband, Francesco Gonzaga, the Duke of Mantua.

Quote, this should be an admonition to all orders who esteem the hearts of their subjects more than fortresses, treasures and men at arms, because the discontent of subjects wages worse war than the enemy in the field." The Gonzaga family had ruled Mantua for over a century and a half, and had traditionally hired themselves out as professional Conditieri to richer neighbours.

Isabella Desti was one of the most cultured and intelligent ladies of Renaissance Italy, and looked over Manchua while her father fought in wars.

Her husband, Francesco Gonzaga, who is now 29 years of age, was famed for his bravery and military skills, and is about to become a key figure in the story.

So far, King Charles 8th had achieved the conquest of Naples without facing a major battle,

but the tide was about to turn, as the leading men of Italy began to discuss what to do

about the situation, and to make plans for countering the French threat.

A key figure in the gathering of resistance against Charles Ith was King Ferdinand of

Aragon, who had recently completed the conquest of Granada, the last Muslim state in Iberia.

He was already in negotiations with the Emperor Maximilian and played on his growing resentment

of Charles's successes in Italy.

Ludovicus Forza, meanwhile, was becoming increasingly concerned about the intentions of Louis

of Orleans, who are still based in the north of Italy, in the town of Asti.

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